Honoring Our History

& Securing Our Future

A Message from the CEO

As we observe Women’s History Month, we do more than simply look back at the trailblazers who paved the way. We recognize that history is a living narrative; one that our members, staff, and supporters are writing every single day. While we honor the giants upon whose shoulders we stand, our focus remains fixed on the barriers we have yet to dismantle and the future we are collectively building.

Standing with Our Deployed Sisters

Our hearts and minds are with soldiers currently in harm's way. To those deployed across the globe, and particularly those serving in the Middle East: we see you. We recognize the profound weight of your service and the sacrifices made not only by you but by the families and loved ones holding down the home front in your absence. We stand in unwavering solidarity with you, remaining committed to ensuring that your service is recognized and your return is supported by a grateful nation.

The Evolution of WINGS

Last month, we launched the pilot of our WINGS program, and the response was nothing short of extraordinary. The sheer volume of applications and the generosity of our donors surpassed our highest expectations.

We are currently in the process of evaluating the results of this pilot. What we have learned so far: the need is great, and our community is ready to meet it. Moving forward, WINGS will become an ongoing program. To better serve you, we are currently streamlining our internal processes - improving the experience for both applicants and our review team - to ensure that support reaches those who need it with greater efficiency and speed.

Advocacy in Action

Our commitment to your rights remains at the forefront of our mission. Last month, our Policy Director testified before Congress, delivering a clear and resolute message: military and veteran women have earned their place in every corner of our armed forces.

We stand firm in our advocacy to ensure:

• Full Access: Continued and unimpeded access to all military roles and occupational specialties.

• Earned Benefits: The guaranteed delivery of all healthcare, education, and transition benefits earned through service.

• Systemic Accountability: A military culture that prioritizes safety, equity, and professional respect for all.

Progress is rarely a straight line, but with your continued support, the trajectory remains clear. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Advocacy Highlights

Closing research gaps on toxic exposure and fertility.

We emphasized that while the PACT Act represents a historic step in addressing toxic exposures, significant research and reporting gaps remain for women veterans. Women veterans report higher rates of infertility than civilian women, yet reproductive outcomes remain understudied in toxic exposure research affecting veterans. Substances associated with reproductive toxicity, such as heavy metals and industrial solvents, are commonly encountered in military environments including firing ranges, motor pools, maintenance facilities, fuel systems, and burn pit emissions. We urged Congress to require gender-disaggregated reporting of PACT Act claims and outcomes, prioritize research on reproductive health impacts of exposure, and ensure veterans with service-connected infertility have clear treatment pathways.

Restoring comprehensive reproductive healthcare access.

The testimony also addressed the impact of the VA’s reversal of its 2022 policy permitting abortion services in cases of rape and incest. Given that roughly one in three women veterans report experiencing military sexual trauma during their lifetimes, we stressed the importance of ensuring survivors have access to medically appropriate pregnancy-related care and counseling within the VA healthcare system.

Protecting evidence-based policies affecting women’s military service.

Finally, we highlighted the potential downstream effects of policy changes affecting women’s participation in combat roles. More than 5,000 women currently serve in combat-designated positions, and thousands more have already transitioned to veteran status. Personnel decisions made today will shape the future veteran population and the healthcare and benefits systems that serve them. We encouraged continued congressional oversight to ensure policies affecting women’s service remain grounded in evidence and operational experience.

We are grateful for the opportunity to present these priorities to Congress and will continue working with lawmakers, federal agencies, and coalition partners to ensure that the needs of women veterans remain fully represented in national policy discussions.

Resources & Opportunities

Women’s History Event: The Women of Never Home

When: March 25, 2026 at 2pm EST

Where: This is a virtual event, register here.

Cost: Free

We are proud to host a Women’s History Month event with Richard Sherman, photographer and author of Never Home: Remembering the Military Heroes Who Never Returned.

Sherman’s book honors service members buried, or memorialized, at America’s 23 overseas WWI and WWII cemeteries. In this program, he highlights six remarkable women whose service and sacrifice have often gone untold, bringing their stories to life through photography and storytelling.

Join us on March 25th at 2 PM EST to honor these women and their extraordinary contributions during wartime.

Military Sisterhood Initiative - MSI Book Club 

The MSI Book Club is a well-established community of women Veterans that has been meeting for several years. Gathering twice a month on Mondays, members discuss a selected book, connect with one another, and enjoy time together. All women Veterans are welcome to join through the MSI community, even if they haven’t read the book.

Bring along your favorite books and join your sister Veterans for meaningful conversation and camaraderie!

For more information and to join MSI, please visit www.militarysisterhoodinitiative.org